According to a report at PostBulletin.com, C.J. Smith will take his physical and ink his entry level contract in Buffalo on Thursday morning. The report also says that Smith wil practice with the Sabres on Thursday and then play the final five games of the season for the Sabres.
One of the more sought-after free-agent forwards in college hockey, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound Smith will officially ink an entry-level deal with the Buffalo Sabres Thursday morning. He is expected to play in Buffalo's final five regular-season games, beginning with Sunday's 2 p.m. Central Time home game against the New York Islanders.Smith, 22, will pass up his final season of college eligibility at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. He flew to Buffalo this afternoon, and is scheduled to take his physical morning, then sign his contract Thursday morning.
Smith accumulated 125 points (56 goals, 69 assists) in 120 games in his career at UMass Lowell.
This swift and sudden signing bodes well for the San Ed and Smith.
However, will the Smith signing cause harsh feelings for left winger Alex Nylander who has been biding his time in AHL Rochester as he awaits his first official call up to Buffalo this season? Nylander was Buffalo's first round selection last June and he has been riding on and loading the buses in The A all season long. Tim Murray has one more AHL call up to make this season. One assumes it will be reserved for Nylander.
The Sabres are loaded at LW right now with Marcus a Foligno, Tyler Ennis, Evander Kane, Matt Moulson, and Nic Deslauriers.
Who sits when CJ Smith plays?
For whom will Nylander play when he is called up?
Signing a rock star NCAA free agent in Smith is certainly a coup for Murray. However, does he risk alienating his 2016 first round selection Nylander if Snith gets a chance to play five games for the Sabres and "Snipeshow" does not get the same opportunity?
You want a coincidence?
Smith and Nylander both wear sweater number 18.
The #19 is currently available in Buffalo now that Cal OReilly has been lent to AHL Toronto Marlies. If I'm Nylander, I'm not giving my favorite sweater number away without a fight.
Tim Murray has a lot of 'splainin' to do on Thursday.
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If my friend Elliotte Friedman's report is true (and it is), the Buffalo Sabres are signing UMass-Lowell free agent left winger C.J. Smith to an entry-level contract.
The Sabres next play Sunday afternoon at 3:00 pm versus the NY Islanders. Perhaps Dan Bylsma will give "Smitty" his first NHL game thatvday.
In 2015, it was Jack Eichel's BU Terriers that knocked out Smith's UMass Lowell Rivehawks from the Hockey East Finals. Eichel was a freshman phenom at the time and his Terriers were just to big, fast, skilled and disciplined for the Riverhawks to conquer.
How cool will it be if Smith ends up riding shotgun on Eichel's left wing in Buffalo? Smith certainly has the wheels and skills to hang with Eichel and Samson Reinhart. I'm sure the Smith signing is a bit of an eye opener for left winger and former 8th overall pick Alex Nylander who has been champing at the bit to play in Buffalo all season long. Tim Murray has just one remaining AHL call up in his wallet and I suspect he will use it to bring Nylander to Buffalo this weekend.